Sealed edge slitting machine



May 13, 1952 Filed April 2, 1949 E. F. HILL SEALED EDGE SLITTING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EDWARD F.HILI

ATTORNEY May 13, 1952 E. F. HILL SEALED EDGE SLITTING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1949 ATTORNEY May 13, 1952 E. F. HILL SEALED EDGE SLITTING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 2, 1949 1N VEN TOR. EDWARD F.HIL.L

ATTORNEY y 3, 1952 E. F. HILL 2,596,400

SEALED EDGE SLITTING MACHINE Filed April 2, 19 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. EDWARD F.HILL

May 13, 1952 E. F. HILL SEALED EDGE SLITTING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 2, 1949 INVENTOR. EDWARD F.H|LL

ATTORNI:

y 3, 1952 E. F. HILL SEALED EDGE SLITTING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 2, 1949 INVENTOR. EDWARD F.H ILL ATTORNEY May 13, 1952 E. F. HILL SEALED EDGE SLITTING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet T Filed April 2, 1949 INVENTOR. EDWARD F. HILL ATTORNEY y 13, 1952 E. F. HILL 2,596,400

SEALED EDGE SLITTING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1949 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

EDWA F. HILL BY w AT TOR NEY May 13, 1952 E. F. HILL SEALED EDGE SLITTING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed April 2, 1949 INVENTOR- EDWARD F.H|L|L AT ORNEY May 13, 1952 E. F. HILL SEALED EDGE SLITTING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed April 2, 1949 KGIIHIII-IIIIIIIIIG [OIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIKO] INVENTOR. EDWARD F. HILL ATTORNEY y 13, 1952 E. F. HILL ,596,400

SEALED EDGE SLITTING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1949 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR.

EDWARDF.H|LL BY .46

ATTQQQEY y 3, 1952 E. F. HILL 2,596,400

SEALED EDGE SLITTING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1949 THERMOSTAT 12 Sheets-Sheet l2 OSCILLATOR UNIT CLUTCH CONTROL .57

LEVER POWER SUPPLY I OSCILLATOR UNIT SWITCH l i INVENTOR.

EDWARD F. HILL 1 BY I! ATTORVE/Y Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEALED EDGE SLITTING MACHINE Edward Fiske HilLRidgewood, N. J.

Application April 2, 1949, Serial No.85,215

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to ribbon cutting machines and more particularly to a machine for cutting, forming and/or severing a continuous web of substantial width, composed at least in part of a heat liqu'ifiable material such as organic or thermoplastic derivatives of cellulose, into a plurality of relatively narrow continuous strips or ribbons.

In the art of forming ribbons of relatively narrow Width, as for example, in the neighborhood of one-half inch more or less, it has been the practice to weave or otherwise produce a continuous Web of substantialwidth and include therein or produce the same entirely of yarn and/or fibers of organic or thermoplastic derivatives of cellulose, and subsequently sever the web into strips by heated severing elements. For example, these elements may be heated stationary knives or heated rotatable cutting discs. The heated. severing element cuts and/or melts or partially melts the ends of the fibers in the fabric Web of the derivatives of cellulose and/or those fibers of such material lying parallel or near the cut edge, and when the edge of the severed strip subsequently cools, the melted or partially melted cellulose fibers fuse or weld together with the unmelted fibers to form a sealed edge.

It is the latter or circular disc type cutting ele ment machine to which the features of the present invention are particularly adaptable. However, it will be obvious that various features thereof are applicable to ribbon cutting machines employing other types of severing elements.

In general, the machine described herein is supplied with a roll of the fabric to be severed and the fabric is unwound and moved past the severing elements where it is severed or out into longitudinal strips, and then the strips of ribbon rolled up on a take-up roll. In machines of this type it sometimes happens that the fabric is not evenly rolled up on the supply roll and as the fabric unrolls therefrom it may have a tendency to creep or move at a slow rate toward one side of the machine or the other. Such movement of the fabric with respect to the severing elements may result in one or more of the endones of the severing elements no longer being in operative relation with the fabric and the consequent production of one or more of the end ribbons containing a web selvage edge and on the opposite side a ribbon of variable width containing an excessive and wasteful encounter the Original Web.

In view of the above it is one of the objects and features of the present invention to provide a ribbon cutting machine of the above general type wherein provision is made for moving the supply roll of fabric lengthwise of the axis thereof to counteract or eliminate any tendencyof the fabric to creep from one side of the machine to the other at the severing elements.

Another feature of theinvention resides in the provision of means for taking-up the selvage edges of the severed fabric independently of the take-up reel or rolls of the severed web or ribbons.

With machines of the above type it has been found that in order to sever the fabric at a reasonable rate of speed it is necessary to maintain the cutting elements at temperatures above the scorching temperature of the fabric. With the cutting elementsmaintained at this temperature the stopping of the longitudinal movement of the fabric for one reason or another is quite likely to result in the scorching of the fabric near the severing elements and the resultant ruining ordamping of the ribbons thereat. In this connection a feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for shielding the fabric from the heated severing means when desired, and thus enable the movement of the fabric to be stopped at any time without scorching the same.

Another feature of the invention resides in the arrangement for heating the severing elements and/or the fabric as it 'is severed by high frequency electronicheating.

The above and further objects and features of the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description thereof wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in the latter of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine embodying the invention with the front of the machine to the right, and illustrates the manner in which the machine operates to sever a roll of fabric into a plurality of ribbons;

Fig. 2 is a left side elevational view of the machine of Fig. 1, and shows some of the controlling elements and driving mechanisms of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a right hand side elevational view of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevational view of the machine;

Fig. 4A is a perspective view of one 'end of' the movable plate upon which the pressure roller brackets are mounted.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the machine taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 2, and illustrates some of the detail of the driving mechanisms of the machine;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary detail view of the fabric feeding mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 88 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 of Fig.7;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line Ill-l of Fig. l, and illustrates the arrangement and operating means for the heat shielding elements for the circular cutting discs;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on line I l-l I of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view 7 of the elements of Fig. 10 showing the heat shielding elements in a non-shielding position.

Fig. 13 is a detail underside view of one of the heat shielding units;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of some of the heat shields and their operating elements;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line l--I5 of Fig. 14, illustrating some of the heat shield operating elements;

Figs. 16 and 1'7 are sectional views taken on lines l6-|6 and Il-l'l, respectively, of Fig. 15;

Figs. 18 and 19 are diagrammatic representations of a modified cutter disc heating arrangement wherein high frequency electronic heating means is employed; and

Figs. 20 and 21 are diagrammatic representations of a second modification of the high frequency electronic heating means.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the structural framework of the machine will first be described. This framework includes four vertical posts 2| adjacent the four corners of the machine and they may be of any suitable construction such as channel members. Extending between the posts on each side of the machine is an upper channel member 22 and a lower channel member 23, and the two sides of the machine are connected together by transversely extending members including tie rods or circular membars 24 and channel members 25. The tie rods 24 are bolted to the posts 2! by machine screws such as 25, and the above described elements comprise the main structural elements of the machine frame from which the various operating elements thereof are supported. With the exception of the machine screws 26, the various structural elements of each side of the frame are suitably secured together as by riveting or welding to form a rigid framework, and it will be obvious that the various structural members of the machine could be made from castings instead of being built up from individual structural members.

The power for running the machine in the preferred embodiment thereof is furnished from an electric motor M suitably mounted on a plate 21 supported from one of the lower tie rods 24 and one of the lower channel members 23. The pulley 28 on the motor shaft is connected through a belt 29 to the driven pulley or element 3! of a variable speed driving mechanism indicated generally by reference numeral 32. The driving pulley 33 of the variable speed unit, through a belt 34, drives a pulley 35 on a jack shaft 3'! suitably journalled in bearings 38 sup- 4 ported from the lower transverse channel members 23. V

The motor M is preferably a constant speed motor and through the variable speed drive 32 the operating speed of the machine may be varied to function properly under different conditions. The variable speed drive 32 may be of any suitable type well known in the art, and its speed varying characteristic is controlled by a hand wheel 39. The hand wheel is coupled through a universal joint M to a rod 42 which has threaded on the inner end thereof a member 40. By rotating the hand wheel 39 the diameters of the driven and driving pulleys 32 and 33, respectively, of the variable speed drive are changed to produce different speeds of rotation of the jack shaft 31.

The jack shaft 31 has freely mounted on the right hand end thereof a sleeve 43 which has fixed thereto for rotation therewith a pair of pulleys 46 and Al. The inner end of the sleeve 43 also has suitably secured thereto a driven element 48 of a clutch referred to generally by reference numeral 49. The driving element of the clutch includes a toothed member 5| which is keyed to the jack shaft 31 for rotation therewith but is axially movable therealong to bring its teeth into and out of operative relation with those on the driven element 48. The driving element 5! has a circular groove 52 therein which is engaged by pins 53 on the upper ends of a bifurcated member 54. The latter member is secured to a shaft 56 journalled in the framework and which has on its outer end a clutch operating hand lever 57. By throwing the hand lever 51 to one position, the driving member 5| of the clutch 49 is moved into engagement with the driven members 58 thereof whereby the sleeve with its attached elements is rotatable with the jack shaft 31. When it is desired to stop operation of the machine, the hand lever 51 is thrown in the opposite direction to disengage the clutch members 53 and 5!.

The pulley d6 on the sleeve 43 drives the hereinafter described ribbon severing discs and also furnishes the motive power for advancing the fabric through the machine. As best shown in Fig. 3, the pulley 45, through a belt 62, drives another pulley 6| mounted on a short shaft 63 suitably journalled in the upper channel member 22 on the right hand side of the machine. A gear 64 on the shaft 63 meshes with and drives another somewhat larger gear 66. The gear 65 is fixed to a shaft 61 which is suitably journalled in the framework and extends from one side of the machine to the other. The shaft 61 is included in the hereinafter described fabric advancing mechanism. The gear 66 also meshes with an idler gear 68 which in turn meshes with a gear 69 on a hollow shaft H also extending transversely from one side of the machine to the other. The idler gear 68 is mounted on a short shaft 72 which is supported on the right hand side of the machine and the shaft H is journalled in bearings 13, Fig. l, on the upper framework.

The pulley 37, Figs. 1 and 3, through a belt 14, drives a pulley it loosely mounted on the left hand end of a shaft ll in the upper front section of the framework of the machine. Rotatable with the pulley 16 is another pulley l8 which has a belt l9 thereon also engaging a pulley H. The pulley 8! is freely mounted on a short shaft 82 and the latter is carried in the free end or hub section 83 of an arm 66 which in turn is secured to the transverse shaft ll. A corresponding arm byrrsuitableimeans such as radially extending tongue and grooves in the two elements. The shaft. .is driven from the pulley 8I through .aixflfictiontdrive indicated generally by reference numeralfifilwwhich includes a friction disc =93 located bjetweenone :face of the pulley BI and a .frictionzplaite 94. The friction plate 94 is movgableuaxiallyralong the shaft 82 but is coupled .ztheretoztby:suitable means such as keys and keyways for rotation therewith. A coiled springefi presses theplate 9 5 against the friction disc 9-3 isandxthe pressure thereof is adjustable by .threadi dug-.the collars! along the shaft 82. Thus the take-:upxshaft 59 is frictionally driven from the zmotor. M since 'it must rotate at a slower speed "assthegzdiameter of the ribbons wound thereon increases for a given speed of severing the fabric.

.The dabriccweb H33 :tobe severed is supplied -from. a ro1l= ISI wound on a shaft I92 which is =supported;in a manner hereinafter set forth on their earztend of the-machine. As shown in Fig. .5,. therw eb I63 as it unwinds from the roll IilI :istthreaded through a tensionand smoothening unitindicated generally by reference numeral I94 -.which z i-ncludes a pair of transversely extending rods 1205. "The rods 1165 are supported on their eatremitiesrin the ends of arms Iii! which in turn are pivoted adjacent their centers on pivots I03 in brackets I39 secured to the outer face of the rearaposts 2|. The arm I97 on the left hand "side of-thamachine has secured thereto for piv- .oting' movement therewith a toothed ratchet .wheel H I, Fig. 2, and in operative relation with the-wheel III is a latch member 2. pivotally mountedon a screw H3. A spring H4 in opertative relation with the member I1l2 urges it into engagement with the toothed ratchet wheel III. 'Z'Z'Llhe .Web I 93, Fig. 5, passes around one side of .the lowerrod I56 and the opposite side of the upper rod and then over an idler roller I It suitably supported from .the machine frame. By turning the arms It'l as for example, in a counterclockwise direction as shown in 3, the drag onjthe fabric Web may be increased and there. will be a greater tension in the fabric as itpasses. to the severing units hereinafter described. The latch H2 co-operating with the ratchet-wheel iII latches the arms in the position towhich they may be rotated.

"Referring to Fig. 5, there is supported in the "upper part of the machine a roller Ill similar to andsubstantially on the same level as the previously mentioned roller I :6. The fabric Web I03 passes substantially in a horizontal "plane from the roller H6 to the roller I I! and'then in a downward direction to the web feeding rollers including a roller lid on the previously mentioned shaft 8?. Between the rollers I I3 and I I1 is, the web severing unit, and normally when the ;fgabric-rea,ch es the roller I I i it will he in asevered condition, the-severedfabric or ribbons being indicated byreference numeral I33. To the right of the roller II8, .ascshown. in Fig. 5, is located a second roller II.9 which;in turn-has on its right athird roller .I2I. The roller I118, on the shaft 57,.is fixedly. positioned on theamachine, and the rollers H9 and .I2I are urged toward the 'leftby means hereinafter described. ly'ihe severed fabric or'ribbons IE3 passes down; approximately halfway aroundthe roller 15:8,up between the rollers H8 and 51,5 9, approximately halfway around the upper-sidecof the. roller, H9, down between the rollers I I9 and I2 I and thence down around an idler roller I22 to the take-up shaft 89.

The journalling arrangement of the tin-screed rollers: II8,. IIS and ,I2I;-whicl1 ;rnay 'be; hollow with: short shafts extending from, the ends, is

best. shown in the enlarged'detail views, Figs. 7 andlB; of one end, and include ball bearing rings such as I22. Aspointedouhthe roller H6 is supported in, fiXedlypositio-ned journals which arewsecured in blocks suchyas I23- supported on .a pair of short horizontal rails I2 1. The bearin s, 122 forthe rollers H9 and IZI are mounted in. blocks lite-rid I21. respectively, which have on .theupper and lower surfaces thereofloneitudinally extending. grooves adapted :to en age and beguided ontherails' I24. To the right sand side of the-block carrying the ball bearing for the roller I2I is a plunger I-Zdwhich is urged ,toward the left by a compression spring 129. The

compression spring 129 is containedwithin a cylinder I3! which has extending arms I52 through which screwsl33 pass to clamp the cylinder to the end of the rails I24. In the right hand end of thecylinder .I3I-is an adjusting screw 1 34 which enables the position of a disc 38 .in :the cylinder to bechanged and thereby vary "the tension or force. of the springidiil. Thus the. various rollers I lfi, I=I9 and IZI are urged together to holdthe-severed fabric or ribbons N3 in contactwith the peripheries thereof and advance 'the same as the rollers are rotated.

To facilitate the initial threading of the severed fabricor ribbons I03 through the feed rollers, they areseparated ormoved horizontally with respect to one another to permit readypassage of the fabric therebetween. 'Io-this end the outer ends of the shafts of the rollers H9 and HI pass through slots inlinks such as I31 which are pivot-ally attached to their right hand ends, Fig; 7, "toythe upper end of levers I38.

Levers: I33 are pivotallymounted on shoulder screws I39 in the horizontal rails '22 and have in operative rela- .tion adjacentthe centers thereof, cams .MI. The

cams I4I. are mounted, on a transverse shaft I42 which has securedrto the outer end thereof a hand wheel. I43. As the hand wheel is rotated, thecams I4I rock .thelevers I38 and move the links I.3.'I-to the right, Fig. 7., and inso doing'move the rollers I19 and IZI in the same direction. The openings in the links -I 3 'I into which the ends .of the-shafts of therollers H9 and IZI extend :are so arranged that the right hand roller I2I moves ,an appreciable amount before the clearance in the slot I 44 is-taken up-bythe end ofthe shaft of the roller 119- :Thus the roller -.I2I is separated from the roller -I I9 and then theroller H9 is separated fromthe roller H8. Accordingly there is clearance between each of. the rollers H8, H9 and I2I;- of the-web feeding unit and after the threading of the fabric there- ,throughthe hand, wheel -I 43 may be rotated to :move-the lobe of ,-the cams I All out of operative re tion ith t ver I whereu on h 7 springs I29 are effective to urge the rollers into engagement with one another.

The feed roller H8 is driven from the motor M through the described drive arrangement and has rotatable therewith a gear I41 which meshes with and drives a gear I48 rotatable with the intermediate feed roller II9. The gears I41 and I48 are such that the peripheral speeds of the feed rollers I I8 and I I9 are all equal.

The webs I03 from which the ribbons I03 are cut in a machine of this type normally have selvage edges which may be of different thickness than that of the web itself, and a ribbon containing the selvage would not under these conditions wind up properly on the take-up shaft 89. Accordingly, it is one of the features of the invention to wind the strips cut from the two edges of the web or fabric up independently of the ribbons formed from the center portions of the web. In this connection a separate selvage take-up unit is provided on each side of the machine for winding up the selvage edges of the web as they are severed therefrom. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a pair of brackets II, one on each side of the machine, is mounted on the upper side of the rails I24 and each has pivotally mounted in the upper ends thereof a shaft I52. Each shaft I52 has a pulley I56 thereon frictionally driven through a belt I54 from a pulley I53 on the shaft 61. The shafts I52 of each selvage take-up unit extends toward the center of the machine, and each has thereon a disc I51. Extending inwardly from the face of the discs I51 and parallel with the shaft I52 but spaced therefrom are a plurality of fingers I58 which form separate reels for the selvage edge strips. As pointed out, the reels of the selvage take-up units are frictionally driven and the fingers I58 facilitate the starting of the winding of the selvage edge strips thereon. The discs I51 have collars I59 through which thumb screws I60 extend whereby the reels are rotated with and adjustable along the shaft I52 and may readily be removed from the machine to permit removal of the rolled up selvage edge strips therefrom.

Spaced from the inner sides of the rear posts 2I are channel members I6I, Figs. 3 and 5, and in the space formed between these members is a horizontal plate indicated generally by reference numeral I62. The plate I62, as shown in Figs. 4 and 4A, is substantially U-shaped and has between the channel members I6I and posts 2I horizontal projections I63. The plate I62 is of substantial thickness to provide the required rigidity, and on the upper edge of the central section I64 thereof are mounted brackets I66, Figs. and 15. The brackets I66 are adjustable along the section I64 and are clamped in position by set screws such as I61. The section I64 of the bracket extends substantially the full width between the two sides of the machine and the location of the brackets I66 therealong determines the number and width of the individual strips or ribbons formed from the web I03. As'

best shown in Figs. 10 and 14, each bracket I66 has slidably mounted therein a pair of upwardly extending rods I68 to the upper ends of which are secured a pair of spaced plates I69. Each pair of plates I69 in turn carry pins I1I upon which are mounted roller bearings I12. The outer race of the roller bearings I12 constitutes a pressure roller through which the fabric, in a manner hereinafter pointed out, is pressed into engagement with a heated circular knife and thereby severed. The above-mentioned rods I68 in each bracket I66 have collars I13 thereon against which springs I14 press and thereby tend to elevate the pressure rollers I12.

Fig. 10 shows a pressure roller I12 and the plate I62 in their lower position wherein the pressure rollers are out of engagement with the cutting discs located thereabove. The plate I62 is elevated when it is desired to bring the pressure rollers into engagement with the cutting discs, and this is effected through a mechanism, hereinafter described, by manually rotating a hand wheel I16, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The hand wheel I16 is fixed to a shaft I11 extending transversely of the machine which has secured thereto worms, such as I18, engaging worm wheels I19 fixed to shafts I8I horizontally journalled in brackets I82. Also secured to the shaft I8I for rotation therewith are arms I83, Figs. 3 and 4, which carry in the freeends thereof rollers I84 which co-operate with the underside of the projections I63 of the plate I62. As the hand wheel is rotated, the worms I18 rotate the worm wheels I19 to elevate rollers I84 and the plate therewith. With this arrangement the pressure rollers I12 may be urged against their associated cutting discs by variable pressures as governed by the strength of the springs I14 and this pressure may .be readily varied at will during operation of the machine by the mere turning of the hand wheel I16.

The above-mentioned hollow shaft 1 I which is journalled and rotated in a manner hereinbefore described, is located above the pressure rollers I12 and, as shown in Fig. 15, has spaced therealong a. plurality of knife-edged circular cutting discs I85 having flanges I86. The discs I 85 are in vertical alignment with respective pressure rollers I12 and are secured to the shaft by set screws such as I81. The spacing of the discs I85 along the shaft 1I determines the width of the ribbons I03 cut from the web I83 and they may be spaced as close as the flanges I86 permit.

In one embodiment of the invention the heat for heating the cutting discs I86 is supplied from electrical resistance units indicated by reference numeral I88, located within the shaft H. The electrical circuit to the resistance units I88 is completed through a commutator indicated generally by reference numeral I89, Figs. 1 and 3, and it may also include a unit for indicatin the temperature of the shaft H and, if desired, a thermostatic arrangement for controlling the flow of current to the resistance units.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for shieldin the fabric to be severed from the heated shaft H and cutting discs I86 when the advancement of the fabric may be halted for some reason or other or when threading the fabric through the machine. This feature is highly desirable with machines of this nature in that it permits the advancement of the fabric to be stopped at any time without scorching of the fabric, which would otherwise result since the temperature of the cutting discs for good operation of the machine must be somewhat above the scorching temperature of the fabric.

When the plate I62 is in its lowermost position, or What may be called the loading or threading position of the machine, as shown in Figs. 10 and 15, the fabric which otherwise would be relatively close or in contact with the cutting discs is moved out of operative relation therewith and an insulating shield placed between the fabric and the heated cutting discs. The shields indicated generally by reference numeral. I9I, Figs. l0, l2, 13, 14 and 15, consist essentially'of flat plates of sheet metal turned up at the edges for reinforcing purposes and covered on their upper sides by an. insulating materiahsuch as sheets of asbestos I92. Secured to the ends of theshields I9I are angle brackets I93 whichhave extending from the sides thereof shoulder screws I94, The shoulder screws I94 carry rollers I96 adapted to roll in slots I9! in arms of Y-shaped bracket members I 99, one of which is suitably supported from each side of the machine. The lowermost shoulder screw I94 of each shield IN is operatively engaged by a slot 209 in the upper end of an arm 29I of a bell crank 202 pivotally mounted on a fixed shoulder screw 263. With the shields IS! in a shielding position such as that shown in Fig. 10, the elevation of the plate I62 brings rollers such as 294 on the ends of the plate into operative relation with rollers 299 at the end of arms 20? of the bell crank 292. Further upward movement of the rollers 204 causes the bell crank 292 to pivot to some position such as that shown in Fig. 12, and in so doing the shields iEiI move outwardly and away from the cutting discs I The rollers 2913 may be mounted on the plate in the same manner as the pressure rollers I72 of the cutting discs I85 but preferably are slightly larger so as to spread the shields i9I before the plate IGI is elevated sufficiently to brin the pressure rollers I12 into engagement with associated cutting discs I95. Normally the rollers i I and I I! for guiding the fabric IE3 to and from the cutting discs I85 are so located that the fabric is bowed or flexed very slightly or not at all when the pressure rollers I72 are moved into their elevated positions. Furthermore, the speed and direction of rotation of the cutting disc I85 are such that the peripheries move in the same direction and at the same speed as that of the fabric. Accordingly, there is no tendency of the fabric to pucker or be otherwise distorted as it moves past the cutting discs.

The higher the temperature of the cutting discs I85, other things being equal, the faster the fabric may be severed, and it is desirable to keep the temperature at a point well above the scorching temperature of the fabric. Since the fabric would otherwise be in contact or close proximity to the heated cutting discs when the movement of the fabric might be stopped, it is necessary to shield the fabric from the cutting discs to prevent scorching thereof when it is not advancing. To this end the lowering of the plate I62 toits lowermost position moves the rollers 294 out of operative relation with the rollers 206 on the bell cranks 292 and thereby permits the shields II to slide down the inclined slots I9'I thereby shielding the fabric from the heated cutting discs.

In addition to shielding the fabric when movement thereof is stopped, the shields I9I in a position such as that shown in Fig. co-operate with a stationary shield 298 to shield theshaft II .and cutting discs I85 to limit the heat loss therefrom.

Secured to the upper part of the two rear posts 2! of the machine are a pair of brackets 2! I, Fig. 6, and mounted in the brackets are a pair of horizontal rods 2 I 2, one above the other. J ournalled in the brackets 2 I I between the guide rods 2| 2 is a shaft 2I3 which has on one end thereof a bevelled gear 2M. The bevelled gear 2I4 meshes with and is driven by a second bevelled gear .2I9 on the rear end of a shaft 2II journalled in brackets 2I8 on one side of the machine. On the forward end of the shaft 2I I is a hand wheel 2 I9 10 for rotating the shaft 2H, and through the bevelled gears 2I4 and 2I6, the shaft 2I3.-

Slidably mounted on the guide rods 2I2 adjacent the endsthereof are a pair of blocks 22I whichhave plates 222 secured thereto from which extend arms 223 and 224. The shaft 2I3 alsoeX- tends through the blocks HI and are threadedly engaged thereby. The arrangement of threads on .the shaft 2 I3 is such that the blocks 22I with their attached arms 223 and224move toward each other when the shaft 2I3 rotates in one direction and away from each other during rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction.

The left hand arm 223 pivotally supports in the hub section 226 thereof a-short shaft 221 which has on the-outer end thereof a friction wheel 228 and on the inner end a recessed or hollowed out member 229 adapted to receive one end of a shaft 23I supporting the roller I02 carrying the roll IIJI of fabric I03 to be cut. The member 229 in addition to supporting the end of the shaft 23I is arrangedxto be coupled thereto for rotation therewith by suitable means, such as engaging tongues andgrooves, and in additionis capable of moving an appreciable amount axially independently of the shaft 23I while coupled thereto. The purpose of this arrangement will be apparent hereinafter.

The friction wheel 228 on the outer end of the shaft .227 has arranged, around the periphery thereof a flexible band or brake shoe 233, the lower ends :of which engagemembers 234, Fig. 3, threadedzon theend of. a shaft 235. The shaft 236 is-coupled by means of .universal joints such as 231 totanother shaft 238 terminating in the front of'the machine and :having a hand wheel 239 thereat. By rotating thehand wheel 239 the members 234 move toward or away from each other to vary thepressure of the brake shoe 233' on. thetfriction wheel 228; and thereby vary the amount 'of tension in the fabric I 93 as it unwinds from the roll I 9 I Thev arm 224 on the .right hand side of the machine carries a hub 24I which supports a shaft 242. The inner end ofthe shaft 242 has a hub 243adapted toreceive the other end of theshaft 23I supporting theroll of. fabric. For purposes hereinafter apparent, the end. of the. shaft 23I extends a considerabledistance into the hub 243 and therefore the roll of fabric I9] may move transversely of the machine an appreciable amount and still be supported. The shaft 242 is clamped in position in the hub portion of the arm 224 by. a clamping member such as the thumb wheel 244 threaded in the hub section.

In operation. of the machine, the roll of fabric. to be severed is placed in the machine and the hand wheel 2 I 9 rotated. tomove the roll supporting shafts 227 and. 242 towardone another and thereby locate the roll of fabric in a central position. Prior to starting the severing operation the hand wheel 2I9is then rotated in the opposite direction to separate the members .229 and 243 and thereby the roll of fabric ispermitted or conditioned for a limitedamount of movement transversely of the machine as the fabric unwinds'therefrom. This permits the roll of fabric to more or less assume the position from which the fabric unwinds smoothly and without the creation of wrinkles, puckers or abnormal strains or tensions in one side or the other thereof. In addition, the arrangement through the operation of the hand wheel 2I9 permits the;roll.of cloth to be moved transverselyof the machine toward its center position from. either side. durin 11 the unwinding of the fabric. Thus the attendant when observing that one of the selvage edges is approaching a minimum or in a position where one of the ribbons will contain a selvage edge can move the roll of fabric to correct this condition.

Figs. 18 and 19, which show in diagrammatic form a modified arrangement of heating the cutting discs, will now be described. In this modification, cutting discs 246 are arranged on a shaft 241 in much the same manner as in the described embodiments, and each has its associated pressure roller 248 to press the fabric 252 against the cutting disc. In Fig. 18 only two cutting discs 246 are shown mounted on the shaft 241 with associated pressure rollers 248. In this embodiment the cutting discs 246 are heated by high frequency electronically induced heat and each has on opposite sides thereof electrodes such as 2&9. With this arrangement the electrodes 249 heat the cutting disc 246 immediately above the pressure roller 243, and accordingly there is less heat loss from thecutting disc than where the disc is heated from a more remote point. In conjunction with this arrangement a thermostatic control 25l may be employed in conjunction with each cutting disc to maintain the cutting disc at the desired temperature. In order to prevent the fabric 252 from being scorched or overheated when the advancement of the fabric may cease for one reason or another, the high frequency current generated in the oscillator unit 253 may be interrupted by a switch 254 of suitable design in conjunction with the operation of the clutch control lever 51. Thus the stopping of the fabric advancing mechanism automatically opens the circuit to the high frequency electrodes 249.

In the modification of the high frequency heating arrangement shown in Figs. 20 and 21, the cutting disc 256 serves as one electrode and its associated pressure roller 251 as the other. The high frequency current is conveyed to these two rotatable electrodes by suitable contacting units 258 and 259 in conjunction with suitable high frequency conductors such as coaxial cables from the oscillator unit 253. In this arrangement the plate I62 from which the pressure rollers such as 251 are supported may be arranged by means of a pin 26! to operate a, switch 252 and open the high frequency circuit when the plate is lowered to bring the pressure rollers out of engagement with the cutting discs 258. With this arrangement the oscillator unit 253 may be tuned to bring the system into resonance regardless of the type of thickness of the fabric 252 being severed and heat the fabric to the desired point, particularly at the severed edges thereof. Thus, the fabric 252 may be severed without the necessity of heating the cutting disc 256 to an appreciable or extreme temperature since the fabric itself is the primarily heated material.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the invention other than those described and shown may be made without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is desired therefore that only such limitations be placed thereon as are imposed by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the type described for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from a web or sheet of fabric containin at least in part 12 yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastic or organic derivatives of cellulose, a plurality of heated rotatable circular knife-edged severing discs, means for moving said fabric in the direction of its length relative to said discs, a plurality of pressure rollers movable toward and away from said discs for pressing said fabric into engagement with said discs, heat shielding means and means for interposing said shielding means between the fabric and said heated severing discs on movement of said pressure rollers means between the fabric and said heated severing discs on movement of'said pressure rollers away from said discs, and means for moving said shielding means from said shielding position on movement of said pressure rollers into engagement with said discs.

3. In a device of the type described for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from a web or sheet of fabric containing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastic or organic derivativesof cellulose, a plurality of heated rotatable circular knife-edged severing discs, means for moving said fabric in the direction of its length relative to said discs, a plurality of pressure rollers movable toward and away from said discs for pressing said fabric into engagement with said discs, a pair of heat shielding plates, and means operative on movement of said pressure rollers away from said severing discs to concomitantly move said shielding plates together and between said fabric and said heated discs.

4. In a device of the type described for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from a web or sheet of fabric containing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastic or organic derivatives of cellulose, a plurality of heated rotatable circular knife-edged severing discs, means for moving said fabric in the direction of its length relative to said discs, a plurality of pressure rollers movable toward and away from said discs for pressing said fabric into engagement with said discs, a pair of heat shielding plates normally tending to move into a position to shield said fabric from said severing discs, and means operative on the movement of said pressure rollers away from said discs to permit movement of said plates between said discs and said fabric.

5. In a device of the type described for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from a web or sheet of fabric containing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastic or organic derivatives of cellulose, a plurality of rotatable circular knife-edged cutting discs, means for moving said fabric in the direction of its length relative to said discs, a plurality of pressure rollers movable toward and away from said discs for pressing said fabric into engagement with said discs, asource of high frequency electronic current, electrical circuits for conducting said current to said discs to heat the same, a switch in said circuits and means operative on the movement of said pressure rollers into engagement with said discs to close said switch to complete said circuits whereby said discs sever said fabric by cutting action and/or melting of the contained thermoplastic material.

6. In a device of the type described for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from a web or sheet of fabric containing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastic or organic derivatives of cellulose, a plurality of rotatable circular knife-edged cutting discs, means for moving said fabric in the direction of its length relative to said discs, a plurality of pressure rollers movable toward and away from said discs for pressing said fabric into engagement with said discs, a source of high frequency electronic current, a disc and associated pressure roller of each pair forming terminating electrodes for said current, means including said current to heat said fabric, current controlling means for said current, and means operative concomitantly with the movement of said pressure rollers into and out of engagement with said discs to operate said current controlling means to complete and interrupt respectively circuits to said terminating electrodes whereby the fabric is severed by the cutting action of said discs and the melting of the contained thermoplastic material,

'7. In a device of the type described for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from a web or sheet of fabric containing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastic or organic derivatives of cellulose, a plurality of rotatable circular knife-edged severing discs, said cutting discs being heated to a temperature above the scorching temperature of said fabric, means for moving said fabric in the direction of its length substantially tangential to said heated discs, a plurality of resistant pressure elements simultaneously movable toward and away from said discs for pressing said fabric into engagement with said discs, and means automatically operative on the movement of said pressure elements from engagement with said discs to heat shield said fabric from said heated discs.

8. In a device of the type described for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from a web or sheet of fabric containing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastic or organic derivatives of cellulose, a plurality of rotatable circular knife-edged severing discs, said cutting discs being heated to a temperature above the scorching temperature of said fabric, means for moving said fabric in the direction of its length substantially tangential to said heated discs, a plurality of resistant pressure elements simultaneously movable toward and away from said discs for pressing said fabric into engagement with said discs, and means for heat shielding said fabric from said heated discs when said pressure elements are a predetermined distance away from said discs.

9. In a device of the type described for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from a web or sheet of fabric containing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastic or organic derivatives of cellulose, a plurality of rotatable circular knife-edged severing discs, said severing discs being heated to a temperature above the scorching temperature of said fabric, means for moving said fabric in the direction of its length substantially tangential to said heated disc, a plurality of resistant pressure elements simultaneously movable toward and away from said discs for pressing said fabric into engagement with said discs, a heat shield interposable between said fabric and said discs for shielding said fabric from said heated discs, and means for automatically moving said shield into and out of a shielding position in conjunction with the movement of said pressure elements out of and into engagement with said fabric and discs.

EDWARD FISKE HILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 223,475 Brombacher Jan. 13, 1880 525,502 Long Sept, 4, 1894 1,798,630 Robert Mar. 31, 1931 1,998,929 McJohnstone Apr. .23. 1935 2,111,054 Paul Mar. 15, 1938 2,251,282 Huizeng Aug. 5, 1941 2,286,675 Gibbons June 16, 1942 2,293,178 Stocker Aug. 18, 1942 2,327,468 Stacker Aug. 24, 1943' 2,464,932 Jones Mar. 22, 1949 

